With our Chester FC reporter Dave Powell on a day off, I had the pleasure of making the short trip across to the Lookers Vauxhall Stadium this morning to meet Jon McCarthy.

An impressive and engaging interviewee, Macca covered a lot of topics, including the superb statistic that no club in the top five divisions of English football have kept more league clean sheets than Chester this season.

Those comments did not go down well with Macca, who said this morning: "To go to Eastleigh, where nobody gave us a chance, and win was outstanding.

"Even after the game the opposition made it out like it was all their fault, and that we hadn't done anything, which was unfair criticism on this group of players and the work that goes on here.

"To go and give that level of performance... either they're not bright enough to see what we're doing or what we're working at.

"There's more than one way to win a football game and tactically, and in terms of attitude and performance and work-rate, we got everything right at Eastleigh."

This afternoon it was confirmed that Martin Allen had left Barnet (again) to become Moore's replacement at big-spending Eastleigh.

FA Trophy latest

McCarthy's focus is solely on Saturday's trip to Guiseley.

But after the Nethermoor clash is done and dusted he will turn his attention to the Blues' forthcoming FA Trophy first-round tie at either Witton Albion or Boston United. Or so he hopes.

The third-round qualifying clash between Witton and Boston has yet to be played after the first scheduled meeting between the teams was abandoned because of fog and the second postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Albion and the Pilgrims will try again on Tuesday (December 6).

The winners will then play host to Chester on Saturday week (December 10).

However, if Witton and Boston draw, and therefore need a replay, or if (heaven forbid) the game is called off for a third time, they will meet on that same Saturday (December 10).

Therefore leaving the Blues without a match and facing a midweek trip to either Wincham Park or York Street.

Got that? I'm going for a lie down.

What a club

Chester do have another big cup game before then, of course.

Calum McIntyre's giant-killers travel to Broxbourne Borough in the third round of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday (December 7) after recording superb victories over Bolton Wanderers and Fleetwood Town.

And it has been confirmed the young Blues will be backed by a coach-load of supporters for the encounter.

What a club.

Any other business?

Yes - part two of our interview with new assistant manager Chris Iwelumo.

It concerns in-form frontmen James Alabi and Kane Richards - and it's well worth two minutes of your time.